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Mike Finch

Specialty Areas

Mike is the Artistic Director and co-C.E.O. of Circus Oz, Australia's national contemporary circus. He is also a founding member of Circus Monoxide and a member of the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association.

Circus Oz began in 1978 as the amalgam of two smaller contemporary circuses, Soapbox Circus and Ensemble Circus. The vibrant and anarchic theatre culture of the seventies in Australia led directly to the creation of a number of innovative companies that would change the face of circus worldwide. As a direct result of Circus Oz and the youth circus The Flying Fruit-Fly Circus, a small but passionate Australian circus community sprang up. The training was fuelled in the early years by skills exchange with the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe and later with a number of Russian acrobats. From this movement came a diverse mob of highly regarded smaller contemporary circuses including Rock'nRoll Circus (now Circa), Bizirkus, acrobat, Lunar Circus and Circus Monoxide as well as The Melbourne Women's Circus and Vulcana women's circus. Much of the innovation, style and aesthetic of these companies during the eighties and nineties predates and/or runs in parallel with the Montreal and French schools. The Australian propensity for irreverence, anarchic comedy, live music and raw absurdity found a natural home in the Australian contemporary circus. The international success of Circus Oz (which has played in over 100 cities in over 30 countries on five continents) has been followed by the strong international reputation of companies like Ra Ra Zoo, acrobat and Strange Fruit. Circus Oz is Australia's premier contemporary circus and holds a position as a Major Organisation alongside Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the state Symphony Orchestras and the state theatre companies.

Mike first worked with Circus Oz in 1992 as an intern, as part of his training.

Mike trained as a juggler and acrobat, training in Australia under Inthasone Phetsiriseng ex- Lao National Circus. During this time Mike also worked as a film director, designed sets and posters for theatre, taught media production and journalism and performed on the street as a circus busker. He was a founding member of Circus Monoxide and The Banana Brothers (a long-running three-man street performance company, which folded when, in two unconnected incidents, one guy became a Jehovah's Witness and the other guy died).

During the nineties Mike realised he had an equal interest in circus and film production and made a clear decision based on the fact that it is possible to direct a film as an old man, but almost impossible to do a standing back-somersault. So in 1996 he focused all his energy on a production called Circus Monoxide which eventually hit the road in a convoy of giant black & yellow buses. Throughout 1997 he lived with eight other performers in bunk-beds upstairs in a double-decker bus. They travelled the entire eastern seaboard of Australia performing an outdoor circus show that folded off the side of the bus. Amazingly there were no fights. This project is the subject of his ongoing Masters Degree.

Mike rejoined Circus Oz several years later in 1997 as Artistic Director and co-C.E.O. He sees his role at Circus Oz as the facilitation of a creative team of highly talented collaborators, rather than the imposition of a singular artistic vision (which is lucky, because otherwise there'd be trouble). Within the Australian Circus community Circus Oz is committed to supporting and connecting the various other companies and when possible providing training space and advocacy to continue the development of the artform and the artistic community.

When not on tour overseas with the performing ensemble, Mike directs the creation of new work at the Circus Oz home-base in Melbourne, and when on tour in Australia lives in a mobile home complete with the upper half of a Volkswagen Kombi van mounted on the roof, and a roof garden as well.

Scott is the Conflict Whisperer and the Fun Maker! Scott is known as the most engaging, insightful & fun speaker in the conflict resolution arena. He has presented to more than 10,000 professionals and is in high demand as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.

Scott has been awarded CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation - the highest international measure of speaking competence. He is accredited as one of Australia's top 100 certified speaking professionals by the Professional Speakers Australia (PSA) and is recognised by the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) as among the top 12% of professional speakers worldwide.

Cas is an Aussie Explorer constantly pushing the boundaries of human endurance.

Most recently, on the 26th January 2012, he made history by completing the longest unsupportedpolar expedition of all time, alongside his best mate, Jonesy. In 100 years of polar exploration no-one had EVER walked from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back without assistance. Many had tried, none had succeeded. After 89 gruelling days they made it back to the coast after having skied 2275km with everything they needed to survive in the harshest environment on Earth.

Dobbo has spent twenty-five years in the trenches alongside CEOs, world champion athletes, innovators, and pioneers. His clients are elite performers from every sphere – true outliers. Mark is a experienced performance coach, speaker and trainer who gets results.

Ella Baché is a respected skin care brand revered across the country. You may think you know its story, but there’s so much more to this brand than meets the eye.

It all started with a bold woman, a pot of wax and the decision to stand out in the foyer of David Jones.

Now, for the first time, CEO Pippa Hallas is opening up about the journey behind the brand, the disruptions, the innovations, the mistakes, the risks - and what it really takes to steer an 80 year old business through a rapidly changing world.

A massive thank you to you both for all your assistance from selecting to co-ordinating the speakers for our annual ProLoan conference. Feedback was that this year’s speakers where the best they had EVER heard at ANY event. So this is pretty amazing, because they do go to a lot of sessions like these.

Director of Network Relationships - Proloan (aust) pty ltd

Again this year you and your team have been fantastic and extremely helpful. In regards to you Sharm, you have been an absolute star and phenomenal help with our speakers and presenters, a great communicator, wealth of knowledge and so prompt with responding and looking at ways to cater to our needs.

Event Manager Fitness Australia

I would recommend, without hesitation, the services of Jane Rowland Smith and Ovations. Jane answered a last minute call to arrange a guest speaker for our principals. Nothing was too much effort, all was arranged within hours, and went very smoothly. The guest speaker was exactly what we required and our brief was followed. Thank you Jane and the team at Ovations.

All aspects of the process has always gone seamlessly with Ovations and we will continue to seek your assistance for the awards in the coming years.

Thank you again, your help has meant that our Awards are very professional and extremely well received by our members and guests.

Executive Assistant BSCAA NSW Division

Jane, I personally want to thank you for all of your support, advice, patience and all round kindness that you have given me over the last 3 or so years. This event would not have been as successful without the valuable MC’s you have recommended and the support you provided me when it all just seemed too hard